JUSTIN Holbrook reflected on the week’s rugby league events with the Star’s Mike Critchley.

MC: How important was that victory at Wakefield?

JH: It was a good response. We had tried to get it the week before against Huddersfield but it was physically and mentally impossible.

We were devastated after the semi – we didn’t just lose a game, we had been knocked out of the Challenge Cup and having won 14 in a row we had forgotten how to lose.

You don’t think about losing and that defeat was devastating.

In the semi we played poorly in the first 20 and made too many errors. It was a hot day and they charged up the middle.

MC: Wakefield is a tough place to go but especially given the backdrop. The first 20 there were a couple of errors again, but the team found some resilience.

JH: The errors were talked about for good reason, but we went into that and said if we make errors just get on with it.

That is what we had done prior to the semi. Percy dropped one on the second tackle on our own try line – but we just got on with and defended our try line.

We just got on with the game and defended that set. That is the way we have to continue. It was really disappointing to lose the semi – but we are still a really good side.

MC: What were the positives you drew?

JH: Just the way we handled the whole week. Everyone is quick to knock people at the top and understandably so. If you are winning every week you can’t wait for them to slip up and a lot of people want to hammer you for it.

That is what you have got to accept – you have to accept your responsibilities and be accountable for them.

I have said that all year – we will be accountable for how we play. The pleasing thing was we got back to working hard and doing whatever it took. It took 25 minutes to break a committed Wakefield side that have the second best attack in the comp.

They asked plenty of questions. They are a real big side and we handled that really well and came away with the win.

MC: Jack Ashworth gave you plenty of energy and aggression at Wakefield, good to have him back?

JH: He did. Four weeks ago he played fantastic against Wigan and came in on the Monday saying he was sore and something was not right.

The doc had a look and said you best get to hospital and he had his appendix out.

He has had a three week recovery from that and came back against Wakefield and made a big difference for us.

He was fantastic for us – I thought he, Matty Lees and Jon Wilkin combined well as a group when they came on.

MC: Where do you see Jack long term?

JH: He plays great on an edge but he has done a good job for us in the middle and runs hard and tackles hard.

I am not 100 per cent where he will fit long term but at the moment he’s doing a great job for us there.

MC: There was some special defensive efforts – Luke Douglas on the line and Tommy Makinson coming off his wing?

JH: Yes, that is what we have not had in the last couple of weeks and have been soft in that area and lacked a bit of desire. We got that back.

MC: Did the reaction to the two losses surprise you?

JH: Internally here we were devastated, as coaches and players, so in a way it did not matter what people outside were saying because we couldn’t hurt any more than we were.

We hadn’t just lost a game but a Challenge Cup semi final. That was much more than a loss.

For me personally I was devastated that we could not get to Wembley and so were the players.

It was less that than everybody asking after Huddersfield ‘what was wrong, what is happening and can it be turned around?’

Everything went wrong against Catalans but we could have got away with Huddersfield had we jagged a try – but it felt like we had lost 50-0. That’s why I was pleased for the players at Wakefield.

We are in as competitive a sport as any. There is no guarantee that we win every week and play well every week.

MC: You have the week off now – not what you would have wished for it but what does it allow.

JH: Rest. Had we won the semi I would have rested a lot for Huddersfield. But because we then had this week off I wanted to try and get them back out and get a win against Huddersfield to feel good. That kind of backfired on us.

The players as a group responded at Wakey. We will use that now for Super League now that we have stuffed up the Challenge Cup.

We don’t want to do that again and so the freshening up of players is the most important thing we can do.

MC: Is the mental freshening up as important as the physical?

JH: Definitely and I think you saw saw signs of that against Catalans and Huddersfield when you are talking about errors, not concentrating. It was a combination of both.

MC: Will you watch the cup final?

JH: I will watch it alone, by myself. I don’t want to be out watching it - it will hurt watching it.

I have to be honest - I will be as jealous as anything that those two teams are there and we are not.

The quicker this week gets out of the way the better. Then we can concentrate on Super League.

MC: Do you want your old mucker Steve Price to win or are you watching as a neutral?

JH: Not sure to be honest – it is hard to think about it. I am good mates with Pricey so would be nice to see him win, but Warrington are a close, neighbouring club and so I am not sure.

MC: The first target is League Leaders Shield, but that alone would be a scant reward for this season?

JH: Definitely, the shield is a reward for being consistent over 30 rounds but it is not the one we are chasing. The Super League trophy is what we want.

MC: If and when top spot is secured, will you be tempted to stand players down and rest them ahead of the semi or are you still all out for winning every game you can?

JH: Not sure. If we can beat Wigan that will effectively clinch LLS and that would be a great night to do it on. Then I think it will be a week-by-week case of if someone is in need of a rest then we will do it. It is kind of how the whole year has gone.

MC: Can we have a catch up on injuries?

JH: Morgan was cleared on Monday by the head specialist. He is now clear to do full training.

I have just got to make sure he gets through with no symptoms and then he will be right to go.

Dom Peyroux is still a few weeks off his x-ray and so five weeks off playing.

MC: Were you worried with Ryan – it must be two or three times he’s been sidelined with head knock this year?

JH: It is not great and that is why he has had a few weeks off this time and not just the protocol rest, it has given it more time.

He has seen the head specialist and neuro surgeon and they said there are no signs of any issues, so we have done the right thing by him as a club.